GLAUCOMA STENT AND METHODS THEREOF FOR GLAUCOMA TREATMENT

• US 20140276332A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Crimaldi, Douglas Daniel, Kalina, Charles Raymond Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,517,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

The invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for reducing the intraocular pressure in an animal eye and, more particularly, to stent type devices for permitting aqueous outflow from the eye'"'"'s anterior chamber and associated methods thereof for the treatment of glaucoma. Some aspects provide a self-trephining glaucoma stent and methods thereof which advantageously allow for a “one-step” procedure in which the incision and placement of the stent are accomplished by a single device and operation. This desirably allows for a faster, safer, and less expensive surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A stent for reducing intraocular pressure by providing outflow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye, comprising:

a grommet, wherein the grommet comprises an inlet end, an outlet end, a seat member at the inlet end, a tapered head at the outlet end and a shank member connecting the seat member of the inlet end and the tapered head of the outlet end, wherein the grommet is configured to extend through the trabecular meshwork such that the inlet end resides in the anterior chamber and the outlet end resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; and

an inner lumen within the grommet, the lumen having an inlet port and an outlet port for providing a flow pathway through the grommet.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the seat member has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tapered head and less than twice a width of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the tapered head comprises at least one horizontal outlet in fluid connection with the inner lumen.

4. The stent of claim 1, wherein the shank member is about the same thickness as a trabecular meshwork between an anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

5. A stent for reducing intraocular pressure by providing outflow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye, comprising:

a grommet, wherein the grommet comprises an inlet end, an outlet end, a seat member at the inlet end, a tapered head at the outlet end and a shank member connecting the seat member of the inlet end and the tapered head of the outlet end, wherein the grommet is configured to extend through the trabecular meshwork such that the inlet end resides in the anterior chamber and the outlet end resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye;

an inner lumen within the grommet, the lumen having an inlet port and an outlet port for providing a flow pathway through the grommet; and

at least one horizontal fluid conduit, wherein the horizontal fluid conduit is located in at least a portion of the seat member and intersects at least a portion of the inner lumen.

6. The stent of claim 5, wherein the seat member has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tapered head and less than twice a width of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

7. The stent of claim 5, wherein the tapered head comprises at least one horizontal outlet in fluid connection with the inner lumen.

8. The stent of claim 5, wherein the shank member is about the same thickness as a trabecular meshwork between an anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

9. A stent for reducing intraocular pressure by providing outflow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye, comprising:

a grommet, wherein the grommet comprises an inlet end, an outlet end, a button member at the inlet end, a tapered head at the outlet end, a seat member, a first shank member connecting the seat member and the tapered head of the outlet end, and a second shank member connecting the seat member and the button member of the inlet end, wherein the grommet is configured to extend through the trabecular meshwork such that the inlet end resides in the anterior chamber and the outlet end resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye;

an inner lumen within the grommet, the lumen having an inlet port and an outlet port for providing a flow pathway through the grommet; and

at least one horizontal fluid conduit, wherein the horizontal fluid conduit intersects at least a portion of the inner lumen.

10. The stent of claim 9, wherein the at least one horizontal fluid conduit is located in at least a portion of the seat member.

11. The stent of claim 9, wherein the at least one horizontal fluid conduit is located in at least a portion of the second shank member.

12. The stent of claim 9, wherein the at least one horizontal fluid conduit is located in at least a portion of the button member.

13. The stent of claim 9, wherein the seat member has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tapered head and less than twice a width of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

14. The stent of claim 9, wherein the tapered head comprises at least one horizontal outlet in fluid connection with the inner lumen.

15. The stent of claim 9, wherein the shank member is about the same thickness as a trabecular meshwork between an anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal.